Tripwire Top 10 Graphic Novels Of 2021: Day One

The Classics Never Go Out Of Fashion

It’s the end of 2021 and here’s Tripwire’s top 10 graphic novels of the year with one choice a day from now until 1 January 2022…

1. First up we have Batman: The Long Halloween Special by Jeph Loeb, Tim Sale and Brennan Wagner, DC Comics.

The Long Halloween was a thirteen part Batman epic published back in 1996 and 1997 which was one of the most seminal Dark knight detective tales of that decade. It spawned a sequel, Batman: Dark Victory in 1999 and Loeb and Sale have worked together since on other projects but this one-shot sees the pair reunited to tell a 48 page tale that shows that the pair haven’t lost any of their chemistry as a creative team. Sale continues to be one of the most cinematic comic illustrators still working in the field and Loeb understands that economy and letting the artist take much of the storytelling burden is what makes a classic comic. It is amazing to think that over two decades since the pair created The Long Halloween, they still have such an affinity for Batman and his supporting cast.

Colourist Brennan Wagner, son of Matt Wagner, is a wonderful addition to the creative team here too offering a colour palette that is the perfect foil for Tim Sale’s art. We believe that Loeb and Sale are working on a new Batman series and it really feels like they’ve never been away. Batman The Long Halloween Special feels bold, dynamic, and lean…

Batman: The Long Halloween Special is out now

Tomorrow: our second top 10 graphic novel of the year